View source for Hallel

{{short description|Jewish prayer of thanksgiving}}
{{hatnote|This article is about Psalms 113–118, most commonly referred to as "Hallel". For Psalms 145–150, also sometimes referred to as "Hallel," see [[Hallel (pesukei dezimra)]]. [[Psalm 136]] is sometimes referred to as "The Great Hallel".}}
{{Jews and Judaism sidebar|religion}}

'''Hallel''' ({{langx|he|הַלֵּל}}, 'Praise') is a [[List of Jewish prayers and blessings|Jewish prayer]], a verbatim recitation from [[Psalms]] {{bibleverse-nb|Psalms||113–118|HE}} which is recited by observant Jews on [[Jewish holidays]] as an act of praise and thanksgiving.

==Types==
===Full Hallel===
'''Full Hallel''' ({{langx|he|הלל שלם|Hallel shalem|complete Hallel}}) consists of all six Psalms of the Hallel, in their entirety. It is a [[List of Jewish prayers and blessings|Jewish prayer]] recited on the first two nights and days of Pesach (only the first night and day in Israel), on Shavuot, all seven days of Sukkot, on [[Shemini Atzeret]] and [[Simchat Torah]], and on the eight days of Hanukkah. The sages have provided a "siman" (a way to remember) the days when full Hallel is recited. It is called "BeBeTaCh".<ref>Liadi, Zalman Siddur, "Seder Hallel"</ref>

A blessing is recited at the beginning and end of Full Hallel.

===Partial Hallel===
'''Partial Hallel''' ({{langx|he|חצי הלל|chatzi Hallel|half Hallel}}) omits parts of the Full Hallel: The first 11 verses of both Psalms 115 and 116 are omitted. In [[Yemenite Jews|Yemenite Jewish]] custom, additional passages are omitted: Psalm 117, and Psalm 118:1–4.<ref>See [[Mishneh Torah]], Hilchot Megillah 3:8</ref>

Partial Hallel is recited on the last six days of Pesach and on [[Rosh Chodesh]]. On these days Hallel was originally not recited at all, and the partial recitation indicates that it is only done by later custom rather than to fulfill a requirement.<ref>Taanit 28b</ref> Regarding Passover, the Talmud argues that Full Hallel is only recited on days when the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] sacrifice differed from the previous day's, while the sacrifice for all days of Passover was identical.<ref name=a10>Arachin 10a</ref> Other sources suggest a different reason: that Full Hallel is omitted on the seventh day of Passover in consideration of the Egyptians who died during the [[Crossing the Red Sea]], and omitted on the middle days of Passover so that they not overshadow the seventh day.<ref>[https://etzion.org.il/he/halakha/orach-chaim/prayer-and-blessings/%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9C-%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%9D-%D7%95%D7%97%D7%A6%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9C הלל שלם וחצי הלל]</ref> Regarding Rosh Chodesh, the Talmud states that Hallel is only required on days on which [[39 melachot|work is forbidden]], which is not the case on Rosh Chodesh.<ref name=a10/>

While [[Ashkenazi Jews]] recite a blessing at the beginning and end of Partial Hallel, some [[Sephardic Jews]] do not, and the few Sephardic communities that do recite a blessing on half Hallel (Moroccans and Spanish & Portuguese Jews, as well as some others) recite {{transliteration|he|likro et hahallel}} (to read the Hallel, as is always recited by contemporary Ashkenazim) on Half Hallel, as opposed to the blessing  {{transliteration|he|ligmor et hahallel}} (to complete the Hallel) that they recite on Full Hallel.<ref>Sidur Avotenu, [https://tablet.otzar.org/#/b/197626/p/678/t/1732177475554/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c/1732177493973 page 667] (link to Otzar Ha-chochmah, available by subscription only).</ref>

==Occasions==
Hallel consists of six Psalms (113–118), which are recited as a unit, on joyous occasions<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ou.org/judaism-101/glossary/hallel-praise-g-d|title=Hallel - "Praise of G-d"|website=Orthodox Union|access-date=2019-09-18|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804232920/https://www.ou.org/judaism-101/glossary/hallel-praise-g-d/|url-status=live}}</ref> including the each day of the [[Three Pilgrimage Festivals]] ([[Passover]], [[Shavuot]], and [[Sukkot]]), as well as at [[Hanukkah]] and [[Rosh Chodesh]].

On all these occasions, Hallel is recited as part of the morning [[Shacharit]] prayer service, following the [[Amidah]]. In addition, it is recited in many communities during the evening prayers on the first (and, outside [[Israel]], second) night of Pesach; however, according to the original [[Nusach Ashkenaz]] it is not recited at this time, and thus it is not recited in communities such as [[Lithuanian Jews|Litvaks]] (although most Litvish communities in Israel do recite it) and [[Yekke]]s.  It is recited in all communities during the [[Passover Seder]] service. According to the [[Talmud]],<ref>Pesachim 116b</ref> there was a dispute between the [[Houses of Hillel and Shammai]] regarding the reading of Hallel during the Seder. According to the school of Shammai, only the first psalm (Ps. 113) should be read before the meal, whereas the school of Hillel advocated reading the first two psalms (Ps. 113 and 114). The remaining Psalms would be said after the [[Birkat Hamazon|Grace After Meals]] (as is usually the case, the [[halacha]] follows the school of Hillel).<ref>Shmuel Safrai and Ze'ev Safrai, ''Haggadah of the Sages'' (trans. Miriam Schlüsselberg; Jerusalem: Carta, 2009), 212. According to the Tosefta (Pes. 10:9[6])</ref>

On [[Rosh Hashanah]] and [[Yom Kippur]], Hallel is not said at all, because as the Talmud states: "Is it seemly for the king to be sitting on His Throne of Judgment, with the Books of Life and Death open before Him, and for the people to sing joyful praises to Him?"<ref>Arachin 10b</ref>

No Hallel is recited on [[Purim]], despite the fact that there was a miraculous salvation. The Talmud suggests three reasons for this:<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.14a.6 Megillah 14a]</ref>
* The miracle did not occur in the [[Land of Israel]] and, for "lesser" holidays, only those occurring in [[Israel]] merit the recitation of Hallel.
* The redemption was not complete: after the Miracle of Purim, Jews remained subjects of the [[Achaemenid Empire]] (whereas on Hanukkah, Jews gained their independence from the [[Seleucid Empire]]).
* Reading the [[Book of Esther]] is considered a form of Hallel.

Partial Hallel is recited on the last six days of Passover, and on [[Rosh Chodesh]]. On all other occasions when Hallel is recited, the text is the full Hallel.

Many Jewish communities, especially those which identify with [[religious Zionism]], recite Hallel on [[Independence Day (Israel)|Israeli Independence Day]] and some also recite it on [[Jerusalem Day]]. The [[Chief Rabbinate of Israel]] instructs Jews to recite Hallel during Israeli Independence Day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-religious-status-of-yom-haatzmaut/|title=The Religious Status of Yom Ha'atzmaut|access-date=2020-03-31|archive-date=2020-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509204714/https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-religious-status-of-yom-haatzmaut/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Other Hallel sequences==
The name "Hallel" is normally applied to Psalms 113–118. For greater specificity this is sometimes called the '''Egyptian Hallel''' ({{transliteration|he|Hallel Miẓri}}).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hallel |title=Hallel |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Judaica |year=2008 |publisher=The Gale Group |access-date=2019-05-08 |archive-date=2019-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508030442/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hallel |url-status=live }}</ref> This name is due to its mention of the Exodus from Egypt in {{Bibleverse|Psalms|114:1|HE}}.<ref name=y>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/3824|title=הלל המצרי והלל הגדול בליל הסדר &#124; בית המדרש &#124; שיעורי תורה|website=אתר ישיבה|access-date=2020-04-11|archive-date=2020-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411184310/https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/3824|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Great Hallel===
The term '''Great Hallel''' ({{transliteration|he|Hallel HaGadol}}) is used to refer to Psalm 136; according to other opinions in the Talmud, Great Hallel refers to either Psalms 135–136 or 134–136.<ref name=y/> Each verse of Psalm 136 concludes with the refrain "for his mercy endures forever" and it contains mention of twenty-six acts of Divine kindness and sustenance for the world.<ref>e.g., Berachot 4b, Pesachim 118a</ref> It is recited at the [[Passover Seder]] after the standard Hallel is completed. It is also said in the expanded [[pesukei dezimra]] on the morning of [[Shabbat]] and festivals. In the Talmudic era, if rain fell on the morning of a fast day that was declared in response to a drought, this was seen as a sign of Divine favor, in which case "the Great Hallel" was added in the afternoon prayers.<ref>Taanit 19a</ref> There is mention in some references that this Psalm may also be used antiphonally in Temple worship.<ref>Ryrie Study Bible-page 955</ref>

Psalm 136 was most probably used antiphonally in [[Temple in Jerusalem#Temple services|Temple worship]]. In Jewish liturgy, the Great Hallel is recited at the Passover Seder after the Lesser Hallel. All through the refrain is a repeated reference to the Lord's steadfast love (see {{bibleverse||Hosea|2:19|NKJV}}). This psalm is a hymn that opens with a call to praise God because of God's great deeds in nature and God's gracious historical actions in the history of Israel. It continues expressing God's mercy toward all and ends with another call to praise God.<ref>Ryrie Study Bible page 955</ref>

===Pesukei Dezimra===
[[Pesukei dezimra]] is also described by the [[Talmud]] as a kind of Hallel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.118b.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=Shabbat 118b:5|website=www.sefaria.org|access-date=2020-04-21|archive-date=2020-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112204619/https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.118b.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Musical settings==
In the Jewish tradition, there are well established and various melodies for the singing of Hallel. Some of the psalms are sung while others are recited silently or under the breath.

In the classical tradition, psalms from the Hallel have been set to music many times, notably:
* Psalm 114
** [[Mendelssohn]]
** [[Josquin des Prez]]
* Psalm 115
** [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] in Cantata BWV 196, ''[[Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196|Der Herr denket an uns]]'', using verses 12–15
* Psalm 117
** [[Antonio Vivaldi]]
** [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]
* Psalm 118
** [[Léonin]]
** [[Pérotin]]

American composer and conductor Michael Isaacson has composed a full Hallel for [[SATB]] chorus, entitled ''An American Hallel'', with interpolations of expressions of praise and gratitude by past and present Americans. It was premiered by the Carolina Master Chorale under the directorship of Tim Koch in the autumn of 2009.

Composer/performer [[Sam Glaser]] has also set the Psalms on his CD ''Hallel''.

==New Testament==
The [[New Testament]] accounts of the [[Last Supper]] state that [[Jesus]] and his [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] "sang a psalm" or "hymn" after the meal before leaving for the [[Mount of Olives]] ({{bibleverse||Matthew|26:30|NKJV}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|14:26|NKJV}}), which may have been the Hallel. The Last Supper is popularly considered to have been a celebration of the Passover,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianfocus.com/products/2714/anthems-for-a-dying-lamb|title=Anthems for a Dying Lamb|first=Philip S.|last=Ross|website=Christian Focus|pages=5–10|access-date=2018-09-20|archive-date=2018-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920160906/https://www.christianfocus.com/products/2714/anthems-for-a-dying-lamb|url-status=live}}</ref> although this is controversial among scholars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Klawans|first=Jonathan|date=April 7, 2020|title=Was Jesus' Last Supper a Seder|url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/was-jesus-last-supper-a-seder/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211033936/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/was-jesus-last-supper-a-seder/|archive-date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 5, 2021|website=Biblical Archeology Society}}</ref>  Jesus, like any other literate Jew in the first century, may well have known how to chant the Psalms in Hebrew, especially the famous Hallel psalms which were an integral part of the Passover.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesacredpage.com:80/2009/04/what-did-jesus-sing-at-last-supper.html|title=What Did Jesus Sing at the Last Supper?|first=Brant|last=Pitre|date=April 9, 2009|publisher=thesacredpage.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716154120/http://www.thesacredpage.com/2009/04/what-did-jesus-sing-at-last-supper.html|archive-date=2019-07-16|access-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Biblical poetry]]
* [[Day to Praise]]
* [[Hallelujah]]
* [[List of Jewish prayers and blessings]]
* [[Takbir]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Cup of Salvation: A Powerful Journey Through King David's Psalms of Praise'' by [[Rabbi Pesach Wolicki]] ([[Center for Jewish–Christian Understanding and Cooperation]], [[Gefen Publishing House|Gefen Publishing]], 2017) {{ISBN|978-9652299352}}
* ''Anthems for a Dying Lamb: How Six Psalms (113-118) Became a Songbook for the Last Supper and the Age to Come'' by Philip S. Ross (Fearn, [[Christian Focus Publications]], 2017) {{ISBN|9781527100879}}

== External links ==
{{Wikisourcelang|he|הלל שלם|Hallel shalem}}
* {{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Hallel |volume=12 |page=855 |short=1}}
* [http://www.opensiddur.org/shared/prayers/lunisolar/hallel/ The Open Siddur Project: Hallel]
* [https://www.sefaria.org/hallel?lang=bi Sefaria.org: Hallel]
* {{librivox book | title=Hallel | author=JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA}}

{{Jewish prayers}}
{{Psalms}}
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[[Category:Hallel| ]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases in the Hebrew Bible]]